The Story

the eltham apiaries' Story

Starting initially as a hobby, Trevor Rowe took his passion for beekeeping with his wife Gay to the next level, founding Eltham Apiaries in 1965.

Trevor Rowe – uncapping a frame of honey ready for extracting.

Gay Rowe packing honey from the first honey vat.

The family owned and operated business soon grew to employ 5 staff as the demand for their quality Taranaki honey took off. Sonia, Trevor's daughter, worked alongside in the honey sheds and Trevor's passion flowed down the family line.

Havesting the honey from a yard - 1999

Bryon amongst the hives - 1999

Trevor with the best hive of 1999

Young Isaac Bluett getting involved

Over the next 25 years Eltham Apiaries run by Trevor and Gay became a household name for their rich New Zealand Clover Honey. With their kiwi ingenuity they developed markets in bulk Clover, beeswax and Comb Honey.

In 1994 Sonia, with her husband Bryon, bought Eltham Apiaries and are proud to continue the excellence in honey production, adding Mānuka, and Bush Blend Honey to the retail line.

Today the legacy continues as Bryon, Sonia and their son, Isaac continue to delight the passionate honey consumer near and far serving up Taranaki's favourite honey with a heart for the community and a love for the land.

Bryon pulling a hive apart to check its wellbeing

Sonia preparing frames ready for the extractor

Our rich honey frames ready for extraction

Bryon working with a hive

Sonia loading the extractor ready for spinning

Sonia and Isaac preparing comb honey

Eltham Apiaries trading now as ELTHAM HONEY is proud to continue serving the community with their school fundraising (clover honey), community groups, school bee presentations as well as promoting healthy bees in the environment. We're pretty happy to continue producing your favourite honey too!